The win by Ospreys in the Boxing Day showdown at the Liberty Stadium saw the defending Pro12 champions move back into play-off contention, despite failing to collect a bonus point against the 12-man Scarlets in the late stages of a game.

They will also have a game in hand after the completion of Saturday's fixtures, as Ospreys' Round 11 fixture against the Dragons has been held over until December 31st.

The Blues ended their run of losses and the victory boosted this season's campaign.

Two of the remaining games on Saturday will decide the 'top teams' in both Scotland and Italy - as the return legs of the double header between Benetton Treviso and Zebre, also Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors take place.

Warriors hold the upper hand in Scotland, as do Treviso in Italy, having already taken an away victory last week.

The final game of the round is at the RDS on Saturday, where Leinster will be anxious to maintain their unbeaten home record and improve their standing in the table at the expense of fellow Irish province Connacht.

Leinster captain Leo Cullen, who is line to make his 100th league appearance for his home province, believes that the squad are heading into an exciting but season-defining few weeks starting with the visit of Connacht on Saturday.

"From our perspective we have to try and build some momentum coming into a busy next few weeks which will go a long way to defining the rest of the season," Cullen said.

"We need some big results and we need to try and get some more rhythm to our play. Against Clermont in the Aviva, we gave away too many kickable penalties and [Morgan] Parra kicked seven out of 8 of them. Then against Ulster Paddy Jackson missed a few fairly kickable shots at goal, but Ruan Pienaar stepped up and kicked well.

"And this weekend Dan Parks will punish any penalties we give away because he has such a high kicking percentage and has proven himself time and again over the years. So we need to be more careful about giving quality sides easy opportunities to keep the scoreboard ticking over. These kinds of games are won and lost over the finest of margins.

"We learned a few harsh lessons over in the Sportsground last time out against Connacht. I acted as water-boy that day and it was tough watching from the sidelines. They brought greater physicality to the game and they dominated us in that regard in Galway. We can't allow them to have that kind of an upper hand again.

"So as 2012 draws to a close and we move into a new year, it's still all to play for. My first wish is that we get a few more points on the board. When we get a few more bodies on the deck that will boost competition for places because we've been disrupted through the first half of the season and we have lacked a bit of fluency thus far.

"Ulster are racing clear at the top of the table and they're going to be very hard to rein in, so we need to dig deep to get back into the top four. Then we travel to Edinburgh in the Pro12 before facing Scarlets at home in Europe and then travel to Exeter Chiefs where they have a great record at home.

"By the end of January we'll know our fate and we have a bit of ground to catch up on. And, for us, that process starts this weekend."

We look at the remainder the Round 12 action!

Saturday, December 29:

BENETTON TREVISO v ZEBRE
(Stadio Monigo - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Benetton Treviso have won their last two Pro12 matches but have not won three in a row in the tournament since October 2011.

There was very little to choose in the first meeting between the two sides in Parma last Friday with Treviso grabbing the only try in the 43rd minute.

Zebre tallied a fourth losing bonus point of the campaign during the 3-10 defeat.

Munster's only defeat in their last five Pro12 fixtures was 6-13 to Scarlets at Musgrave Park on 25 November.

The Munstermen's solitary loss at Thomond Park in this tournament since October 2011 came at the hands of Leinster in March.

Ulster have now equalled Leinster's best ever start to a Pro12 season with eleven straight victories, and have won all eight away games they have played in all competitions this season.

The Ulstermen have won all three games against fellow Irish provinces this season, but so far all those encounters have been at Ravenhill.

The last four meetings between the two sides in the Pro12 have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Ulster have not won at Thomond Park in the competition since 2009, although they did of course triumph there in last season's European Cup quarter-final.

Newport Gwent Dragons have won just one of their last six Pro12 contests: 14-3 at home to Connacht on 23 November.

The Dragons have won their last two matches at Rodney Parade in all competitions.

The Men from Gwent have been beaten on the last four occasions they have faced a fellow Welsh region Ospreys' only defeat in their last eight Pro12 encounters was 13-23 to Edinburgh at Murrayfield on 23 November.

Ospreys have not won away from home in any competition since a trip to Zebre in the Pro12 on 5 October.

Ospreys have won their last six fixtures with fellow Welsh regions in all competitions.

The last three clashes between the two sides in the Pro12 have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the only occasion that Ospreys have ever been triumphant at Rodney Parade was with a 27-13 win on 8 May 2007.